Page 43 - Beaufort County Military and Veterans Resource Guide

taking place as clinicians and re-
searchers are developing tools that
can be used to test the efficacy of
the treatment interventions that are
currently being studied to address
moral injury (Pearce et al, 2019).

At some point, the precipitat-
ing incident(s) must be shared
and looked at reflectively. Ther-
apists and clergy are often at the
front lines, however, the larger
community can also take part.
Consider that moral injury af-
fects and is affected by the moral
codes across a community, heal-
tom associated with moral injury (Kutz, 2019). Given ing is based on setting oneself
the many challenges involved in successfully treating right with their moral conviction and the communi-
military-related PTSD, clinicians are often so focused ty. It is asked that the community become aware and
on PTSD symptoms and comorbid disorders (mood listen deeply with an open heart and without judg-
disorders, substance abuse, risk of suicide, etc.) that ment. Such sharing and listening to moral injury
they fail to recognize underlying moral injuries that outside the confines of a clinical setting can be a
may be driving these disorders. Failure to recognize way to break the silence that so often surrounds this
and address moral injury may impair successful treat- unrecognized invisible wound.
ment of PTSD, at least partly explaining why PTSD
outcomes are so poor. In my work with post 9/11 veterans throughout the
state as well as with those within the Beaufort/Bluffton
Moral injury must be acknowledged in the same way area, I see many who are struggling with Moral Injury.
that we acknowledge the physical and mental costs of It is through finding peace with their past, reconnect-
traumas experienced in war and other places of danger. ing with their faith and being willing to connect with
Trauma that causes PTSD will most likely cause mor- others in the community that allow for healing and
al injury, too. This does not mean treating PTSD will purpose to take place. This in turn allows the veter-
“treat” moral injury, nor vice versa. With something as an to begin to thrive rather than just survive in their
complicated as moral injury, vigorous research is now civilian life!

Article courtesy of
Kim Bradley, RN, BSN
Semper Fi Fund Nurse
& Co-Founder of
Vantage Point
Foundation

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